Spain 1791-M MF 1/2 escudo
This specimen was lot 4232 in Sincona sale 20 (Zurich, October 2014), where it sold for CHF 400 (about US$501 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "1/2 Escudo 1791. Madrid Mmz. MF. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (very fine to extremely fine.)" This type was struck in Madrid 1788-97 and is rather rare in comparison to the half escudos of the previous reign. Half escudos were struck in metropolitan Spain 1738-97 in considerable numbers and are quite a bit more common than their silver equals, the eight reales. This is opposite from Latin America, where silver pesos were minted in vast quantities but half escudos would not be minted until the reign of Ferdinand VII. Assayer MF is listed for 1788-99.
Recorded mintage: unknown but quite scarce.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.875 fine gold, .047 troy oz AGW, this specimen 1.73 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13991, KM 433, C.T. 566. Fr-299.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Numismatic Coins & Medals: Auction 20, Zurich: Sincona AG, 2014.
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